Taking place after the events of the film, the game follows Lightning McQueen as he participates in the new racing season with his goal set on finally winning the Piston Cup.

The PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS releases of the game each received a Platinum Sales Award by the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA).

The console versions of the game are set in the fictional town of Radiator Springs, where it takes place after the movie.

The game takes place in a open world in the vein of Need for Speed, Grand Theft Auto and Midnight Club.

The player character begins in Radiator Springs, but later unlocks Ornament Valley and Tailfin Pass.

[3] The PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS versions differ from the primary release.

In the PSP version, the player must compete several challenges to allow Lightning McQueen to claim Radiator Springs back from the Delinquent Road Hazards gang.

During the story players also take control of other characters such as Mater, Sally, and Sheriff for specific events.

It begins with a playable dream sequence in which Lightning McQueen participates in a street race through Radiator Springs and the surrounding area.

With his lessons complete, McQueen heads to Flo's V8 Cafe, where he meets four new racers; two from England and two from Mexico.

Through a race challenge from Sheriff he is introduced to nearby Ornament Valley, where he encounters three additional casual racers from Queens, New York.

When McQueen returns from his third victory he encounters the Delinquent Road Hazards trio, the tuner gang seen antagonizing Mack in the first film.

Later Sally goes on a drive to the Wheel Well Motel, and McQueen is subsequently introduced to the Tailfin Pass area.

McQueen wins his fourth Piston Cup race after confronting Hicks, who denies being involved.

On May 8, 2002, video game publisher THQ acquired the rights to the next three titles from Pixar Animation Studios – Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars.

The console versions feature the full voice-over cast from the film, including the likes of Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton, Paul Newman, and Larry the Cable Guy.

Featured licensed tracks include Free Ride by The Edgar Winter Group, Rock This Town by the Stray Cats, What I Want by Autopilot Off, Come On, Let's Go as performed by Los Lobos, and Real Gone by Sheryl Crow, which makes a return from the film.

In 2007 the Entertainment Software Association partnered with Microsoft for that edition of the ESA charity combo pack.